Dr Georgia Purdom Ph.D.

Molecular Geneticist

Answers in Genesis, USA

Dr Purdom received a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from Ohio State University in 2000.

Dr. Purdom said that “the creation and evolution issue is so important because it is foundational to biblical authority, a Christian worldview and to the whole of Christianity. Therefore, it is necessary to have a solid understanding of the issue of origins.”

Dr. Purdom became a Christian when she attended a youth camp when she was eight years old. Six years later at a Christian youth conference, she dedicated her life to serving the Lord.

Among Dr. Purdom’s professional accomplishments include the winning of a variety of honors, research presentations at national conferences and the completion of five years of teaching at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (Ohio). She has published papers in the Journal of Neuroscience, the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. She is also a member of the Creation Research Society, American Society for Microbiology, and American Society for Cell Biology and a peer reviewer for Creation Research Science Quarterly.

Dr. Purdom’s main area of specialty is cell and molecular biology. Her graduate work focused on genetic regulation of factors important for bone remodeling. Her particular interest is in the role of mutations and horizontal gene transfer in microbial populations (and other organisms) in natural selection. (For our view on natural selection and whether it is a sufficient mechanism to drive evolution, read Muddy Waters: Clarifying the confusion about natural selection.)

Dr. Purdom says: “Many people believe mutation and natural selection are responsible for the widely varying animal species and races of humans seen on the earth today. They are wrong.”

Another one of Dr. Purdom’s keen interests is the Intelligent Design Movement. She commented that: “On the surface, IDM looks very attractive to Christians in that it supports the existence of God through science alone, while leaving out the Bible. It seems less controversial because a ‘god’ is not named and therefore, could be taught in schools in opposition to evolution. Many Christians are not educated about the IDM and the implications that it is teaching, which I think are problematic.”

Dr. Purdom heard a creation presentation when she was a student at a Christian college in Central Ohio (Cedarville University). She soon had a dream of being able to work in creation studies, especially after noticing that there were not many women engaged in even part-time creation research and lecturing.